‘I’m not an activist’: an exploratory investigation into retired British Paralympic athletes’ views on the relationship between the Paralympic games and disability equality in the United Kingdom

Abstract

One claim of the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is that the London 2012 Paralympic Games ‘improved attitudes to disability and provided new opportunities for disabled people to participate in society’. In addition, the International Paralympic Committee’s strategic plan suggests that the Paralympic Games is a vehicle for achieving ‘a more equitable society’. The aim of this study was to examine the reflections of a group of retired British Paralympic athletes on the relationship between the Paralympic Games and disability equality in the United Kingdom. Narrative interviews were conducted with five male retired British Paralympians and one female retired British Paralympian who had participated in a total of 22 Summer Paralympic Games events. I will argue that some Paralympic athletes who are not obvious ‘activists’ can still contribute to equality for disabled people.

Keywords:

• Paralympic athletes
• disabled activists
• Disabled People’s Movement
• Paralympic Games

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the RPA participants for agreeing to, and enduring, the lengthy interviews as well as their willingness and generosity in answering the follow-up emails for clarification on certain points. The author is also grateful to the reviewers for their criticism and suggestions.

Notes

1. ‘Uncle Tom’ is a derogatory term used in this context to describe a disabled person who thinks like a non-disabled person.